Does Alberta Health Services cover my physical therapy if I have a doctors’ referral?

How many sessions will I have to attend?

Will my benefits cover physical therapy?

What can I expect during the physical therapy assessment?

We will kindly ask that you arrive for your appointment 15-20 minutes early to ensure you have enough time to complete your paperwork. Also, please come in active wear that allows you to move freely.

Your assessment will begin by going through a detailed injury and health history; this takes approximately 20 minutes. We will then perform an objective examination on the injury site. Using information obtained in both the history and objective examination, we will be able to determine your diagnosis. We will then go through your diagnosis, prognosis and treatment plan that is tailored to you. If you agree with the plan, and time is permitting, we will start treatment on the first day. Please expect to be in the assessment for approximately 1 hour.

What can I expect during a physical therapy treatment?

Treatments will take approximately 30 minutes on average. During this time we will take a few minutes at the beginning to check in on your status to make note of any changes. During this time, we will perform any hands on therapy that is required, including but not limited too: joint mobilization, soft tissue release, neural mobility or any of the offered needling services. In addition, we will go through your therapeutic exercises in the clinic and if necessary, make changes to your home exercise program as needed. Following your session we can apply pain relieving modalities (thermal or electrical) to wrap up the session.

How much does it cost?

Our fees are as follows:

Assessment (1 hour): $85

Treatment (30 minutes): $65

Needling fee in addition to treatment cost: $5

What should I wear to physical therapy?

Wear clothing that allows you to move freely and that you are comfortable in.To properly assess an area, the physical therapist must be able to see the area. If you forget to wear appropriate clothing, we have extra clothing in the clinic that we would be happy to lend you.

Do I need a doctor’s referral to obtain physical therapy services?

You do not need a doctor’s referral to obtain our services. However, some extended health plans require a doctor’s referral before they will reimburse you for the cost of the assessment or treatment. We advise that you call your insurance company to see if there are any requirements before you obtain physical therapy services.

Does Alberta Health Services cover my physical therapy if I have a doctors’ referral?

No, unfortunately, Alberta Health Services (AHS) funding is very limited. Even with a referral, we are not able to bill AHS for your session at this time.

How many sessions will I have to attend?

This is a difficult question to answer without assessing the injury first. After our assessment, we will provide you with information about your condition and general timelines that it may take for recovery.

Will my benefits cover physical therapy?

Most plans do include coverage for physical therapy, however, every plan is different. We suggest you call your extended health company and they will be better able to inform you on your coverage.